If defenceman Alex Edler is to represent the Swedish men's hockey team at February's Sochi Olympics, he will have to sit out the first two games of the tournament.

The International Ice Hockey Federation officially ruled as such Tuesday, making it a four-game suspension overall stemming from a knee-on-knee hit on Canadian centre Eric Staal at the world championships in May.

Edler, from the Vancouver Canucks, received a major penalty and game misconduct. Sweden went on to defeat Canada in that quarter-final game, with Edler absent from the country's subsequent wins in the semifinal and championship final.

If he's selected for Sochi, the 27-year-old will miss Sweden's Feb. 12 game against the Czech Republic, as well as a meeting with the Swiss two days later.

Edler is looking to make his Olympic debut after seven seasons in the NHL, all with Vancouver.

Staal, of the Carolina Hurricanes, is on the mend after suffering a ligament sprain that did not require surgery.

The 28-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ont.., was selected earlier this month for the preliminary Sochi Olympic roster. He was an alternate at the 2006 Games, and scored a goal and six assists in eight games in Vancouver to help Canada to gold.